This sixth and final installment of Rohmer's "Six Moral Tales" focuses, for the first time in the series, on the married Frederic (Bernard Verley), a professional who spends very little time with his equally business-minded wife, Helene (Francoise Verley). The first part of the film is
essentially a prologue as it carefully sets up the male lead's character. He is a man easily seduced--but only mentally. Frederic imagines what certain women (a wonderful series of cameos by previous Rohmer heroines) are like, concocting romantic adventures with them as they walk down the street.
In one telling scene, he purchases a shirt from a pretty saleswoman only because he cannot resist her charms. Having settled into marriage, he dreams only of love in the afternoon (as the original French title translates). Then into Frederic's life walks Chloe (Zouzou), an attractive, sexy mystery
woman determined to seduce him.
A fitting close to the series, which finally marries off one of Rohmer's romantic heroes, reunites all his previous heroines, and addresses the basic theme of marital infidelity. To a greater degree than his previous films, Rohmer (to the surprise of those who find his work talky and boring)
invests CHLOE IN THE AFTERNOON with a surprising amount of suspense--not the obvious sort, but a variety that is quieter, emotional--with all the tension and conflict occurring inside the character's mind. In this respect Rohmer seems a deserving recipient of the soubriquet "the Henry James of
cinema." leave a comment
